video

[snowslip]

[ Marianne appears in the video looking more anxious than usual, perhaps because this is her first time addressing so many people at once and she's never liked drawing attention to herself, but also because of the news she's about to share. ]

Um, I wanted to warn everyone that monsters around Aldrip have become more aggressive lately. They've also been roaming closer and closer to town. Even where I usually take the horses out to graze isn't safe. Please be cautious when walking about, and I would avoid the outskirts. Um, those that can fight, it might be good to band together to try and drive them away...

[ ... ]

There's something else...

[ After an agonizing pause, she rolls back the sleeves of her dress to reveal her arm, black marks marring her fair skin. Her expression turns pained. ]

These marks appeared on me shortly after encountering the monsters. Healing doesn't seem to have any effect on it. Something like this happened once before and I...I'm afraid it could make me not myself.

If anyone knows anything about it, please...

[ She trails off, unable to conclude her announcement on an eloquent note. ]

Comments

[snowslip]

That must have been a terrible ordeal.

[ A researcher of dangerous animals...Perhaps that was why Erichthonios appeared so calm when dealing with the creatures here and had even picked up on their corrupted state quickly. ]

It's reassuring to have someone experienced like you looking into the corruption.

[beshackled]

[It was a terrible ordeal. Colleagues lost, having gone mad from the corrupting influence upon them and turned into something else, and yet even among those turned one had been saved and turned back.

His confidence in this matter is not merely blind faith.]

I am glad to be a source of reassurance for you.

[Even if he does not think much of himself, it feels... nice, to be seen as reliable.]

Pray do not lose hope. I have no intention of stopping until I find a way to restore the land and its inhabitants.

[snowslip]

I...yes, I won't give up.

[ Not like before. He is working so hard, it would be remiss of her to despair now. Her voice takes on a hopeful quality that wasn't present before. ]

If there's any way I can support you, please let me know. It might not do any good, but I know some healing magic, and I can supply herbs from the clinic.

[beshackled]

Healing magic would be a wondrous help.

[His words are heartfelt. People are bound to become injured if attacked by the agitated animals. 'Tis likely the afflicted fauna will lose their wariness of humans as the condition progresses, until they end up like the octopi.]

And I know not what herbs the clinic has available... but I have heard some have a use for calming? Mayhap those will be of help in managing some of the symptoms.

[snowslip]

I believe we have some herbs for helping with sleep, and I know an apothecary where we might find more. Healing magic hasn't worked on the corruption itself, at least the kind that I know.

[ She hugs her arm, nails digging into skin. The black marks had remained even after her spell had faded and she had finished saying her prayers. The cure will have to come from elsewhere. ]

[beshackled]

But you may yet be of great help to those who become injured.

[Leaning forward, he gingerly touches a hand to the shoulder of the hand whose nails sink into skin, wishing to encourage her to relax her hold.]

Pray do not be hard on yourself.